Analysis and Modelling of Effects of Traffic Light Operations Variability to Violation Rates at Junction

Previous research, based on potential conflicts analysis, has provided a quantitative evaluation of ‘proneness’ to red-light running (RLR) behaviour at urban signalised intersections (Giuffrè & Rinelli, 2006) varying geometric, traffic flow and driver characteristics. Recent study (Bell, Galatioto, Giuffrè, & Tesoriere, 2012) demonstrated the potential to use micro-simulation models to evaluate the ‘proneness’ to RLR behaviour at urban signalised intersections in Italian cities, varying flow characteristics and stop line distances. The micro-simulation, although at its early stages of development, has shown promise in its ability to model unintentional RLR behaviour and to evaluate alternative junction designs on proneness. In order to make more robust the new modelling framework, the need to demonstrate the transferability of the modelling approach has been addressed in this paper by using a four arms junction in Enna (Italy), where an extensive period of continuous video recording has been carried out. Moreover, in collaboration with the local Police, different cycle and green time settings have been implemented in order to measure the effects on the RLR rates. Then the measured RLR rates have been evaluated and compared to the modelling results as a validation exercise. In this way the prediction capability of the proposed potential conflict model has been extended and improved.